Chapter Fourteen

Despite the awkward silence of the ride back, I decided to busy myself playing with the ambient lighting and other control settings in my new car until we make the climb back up the mountain to the gates of the community. Even though the car I have back in Florida is basically the same thing, the upgrades in the newest model are worth purchasing it alone.

As we roll through the street, I peer out the windsheild. I notice that all of the driveways are vacant, though most of the porch lights are on now that the sun has gone down. Come to think of it, I haven't physically seen any other residents yet, though there are some lights on inside some of the other homes. It's oretty cold out afterall, so it's not likely that anyone is going to be out walking their dog or jogging. I know I sure wouldn't be.

"So, which one is yours?" I ask as we drive, gesturing towards the rows of townhouses. The Escalade isn't in any of the driveways, so I assume that he must have pulled it into his garage while I was unpacking. "You said you live here too, right?"

We pull into my driveway and pause to let the garage door open. Adrian takes the moment of free time to point out my window to the home right beside mine. "That one," His arm is so close to my face that I can feel the heat radiating from it, despite being in nothing but a t-shirt since I took his jacket. "My cars are in the garage."

I reach up to push his arm back down, feigning annoyance. "I should have assumed you'd be right next door," I say, taking one last look at his front porch before he pulls the wagon inside my garage. Compared to the others surrounding them, both of our homes seem a bit bland and undecorated. My lack of decor is excusable since I'm just moving in. Adrian's on the other hand, makes me question, yet again if he's really been living here for months. "And did you say cars? As in multiple?"

He grins like a little kid bragging about his Hot Wheels collection. "Well, techically the Escalade is the only car. There's a Ducati Desmosedici D16RR NCR M16 in there too."

I stare at him blankly. "I have no idea what that means."

He laughs as he pulls the into the garage, making sure the door closes behind us. "It's a motorcycle. I don't get to ride it very much up here, though."

Oh, I forgot that I don't know where he's originally from. I make a mental note to ask him later, and exit the warmth of the G-wagon, making a b-line towards the door. "That's cool. You'll have to take me on a ride one day if it ever warms up. You've got the groceries, right?"
I ask over my shoulder, pushing my way iinside of the house before he has time to answer. I deposit my shoes by the garage door for now and go to the living room to figure out how to turn the fireplace on. The regular heating unit seems to have been running, but it still feels too cold for me to be comfortable without a jacket on.

Adrian follows me a minute later with all of the bags in his arms, successfully transferring them inside in one trip. I meet him in the kitchen to begin putting things away, grateful to see that his demeanor is more relaxed now that we're home.

"So, what was that about at the store?" I pry, opening the refrigerator to put the cold items away. I take my time organizing everything just the way that I like it, listening to bags rustle on the island behind me as Adrian lays everything out onto the counter for me to see.

"What was what about?" He asks, glancing at me over his shoulder.

I turn to glare at him in disbelief. Is he really playing dumb right now? "You know, you tend to change as soon as you suspect danger. Was someone following us at the store or something?"

He pauses, turning his back to lean on the counter as he watches me closley. "You're observant," It sounds like a compliment coming from him. I get distracted when he crosses his arms over his chest though, being able to fully appreciate his tight t-shirt now that we're inside. His biceps bulge as he moves hir arms, looking even bigger without long sleeves to conceal them.

"We weren't being followed per se, I just spotted someone that I'm not fond of seeing."

I tear my eyes from his swollen pecs to look at his face again, not missing his pleased smirk. I ignore his reaction to my staring and put the last few items in the fridge away. "Someone you don't like? Or someone that doesn't like you?"

He quirks an eyebrow at my insinuation. "Why do you think people don't like me?" He asks, feigning insult.

I narrow my eyes at him before closing the fridge. "Well, I assume that girls like you. Guys, on the other hand, I'm skeptical about."

He doesn't move from his place as I move beside him to begin plucking items from the counter beside him to place in their designated cupboards. Adrian snickers at my indication. "Why would you assume that?"

I pause my organizing on the other side of the kitchen to look back at him. Is he really fishing for compliments right now? It's not like he doesn't know he's attractive. "Don't act like you don't know why," I scoff, turning back to the cupboards.

I hear him chuckle behind me. "I guess I could say the same about you then. I'm sure you don't have many female friends, right?"

I bristle, flying around to give him a dirty look. "Excuse me?"

Seeming to realize what he said, Adrian's eyes widen as he pushes off of the counter, hands raised in surrender. "That came out wrong, I didn't mean it like that,"

"Yeah, I'm sure you didn't," I glower, stomping over to him to get the rest of the groceries from the counter behind him. "I doubt you would call your client a slut, after all." My voice drips with sarcasm as I shuck off his jacket, tossing it to him vehemently.

Hearing the anger his accidental insult provoked, Adrian looks up at the ceiling and closes his eyes. "I'm sorry, Lydia. I was just trying to tease you."

I flip my hair as I turn my back to him, placing cans on the shelf above me. These cabinets are fricking high, so I have to stand on my toes to reach the second shelf and it isn't helping my mood.

"Sure."

Adrian sighs heavily at my short response. "Please forgive me," He begs, sounding pitiful now. "I don't have a lot of experience with women, so I don't know what to say to you half the time. I really am sorry,"

I turn to face him finally, about to say something snarky to call him out on his lie. There's no way someone like him has never been with a woman before. My anger fizzles out when I see the genuine apology on his face, though. I open my mouth to say something, but the sound of something sliding from the cupboard behind me makes me flinch, preparing to be hit by a jar.

Adrian's chest is suddenly pressed against mine as he reaches above me, somehow catching the assailing jar of olives.

I stare at him with incredulity, my breath catching in my throat. He's so close to me, with an arm wrapped around me to pull me against him, out of the cupboards firing range. His hand somehow brushes the skin beneath my sweater at the small of my back, bringing me goosebumps.

I hear him return the jar to the shelf and close the cabinet door to avoid repetition, but his eyes never leave my face. They look like pools of coffee up close, dark and endless. He swallows thickly, glancing from my eyes to my lips.

I press them together, imagining how he would feel against them. My heartbeat pounds like drums in my ears as I stare back at him, suddenly feeling helpless in his arms. I didn't expect him to be so... solid.

At this point, even a blind man wouldn't be able to deny the chemistry between us.

Adrian steps back too soon, but his hands linger on my waist. "I'm sorry," He says breathlessly. "I keep messing up."

I know exactly how he feels. My resolve seems to melt every time he looks at me like that, and I can't help but feel pulled towards him. It feels wrong to have feelings for someone who's employed to look after me, and it would be betraying my father's trust for him to kiss me. Somehow, that makes me want it even more, though. Forbidden romance feels dangerous.

I swallow, trying to pull myself together. "Are you sorry? I don't know if I am," I admit, surprised to hear my own voice.

He closes his eyes with a groan, seeming to wrestle with himself. After a moment, he opens them and removes his hand from me, leaving a trail of heat across my skin. "I can't do that to your father. My own dad would be disappointed in me," He confesses, running a hand through his hair.

Damn, his jawline is sharp. Is everything about him so alluring?

Adrian sighs, looking back down at me with ardor. Frankly, I'm amazed that his resolve cracked so quickly, though I'm grateful to see that I'm not the only one struggling. "I should start dinner for you. You look like you could use some rest soon."